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In some of the strongest words on the landmark Iran nuclear deal negotiated by the Obama administration reached in 2015, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson described the pact as a failure on Wednesday.

“The JCPOA fails to achieve the objective of a non-nuclear Iran,” he said. “It only delays their goal of becoming a nuclear state.”

As a presidential candidate, President Trump described the Iran deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as “the worst deal ever negotiated.”

Critics of the agreement say the provisions agreed upon are so weak, it guarantees compliance and does little to prevent Iran from becoming a threshold nuclear state.

While acknowledging Iran is in compliance with the agreement in a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan Tuesday, speaking to reporters at the State Department a day later, Tillerson outlined Iran’s hostile actions.

“Whether it be assassination attempts, support of weapons of mass destruction, deploying destabilizing militias, Iran spends its treasure and time disrupting peace. An unchecked Iran has the potential to travel the same path as North Korea — and take the world along with it,” he said.

“Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, and is responsible for intensifying multiple conflicts and undermining U.S. interests in countries such as Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon, and continuing to support attacks against Israel.”

Tillerson’s letter to Ryan also informed the Wisconsin Republican the watershed agreement would undergo and inter-agency review as directed by the White House, concentrating specifically on the gradual removal of sanctions on Iran.

Describing failed diplomacy with Iran similar to past failure to properly contain rogue nations, Tillerson signaled a refusal to contain Tehran would lead to a scenario similar to the current crisis on the Korean peninsula.

Although Tillerson did not reveal details, he did mention State was currently reviewing North Korea and options included returning the reclusive state to the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism was being weighed.

The U.S. House recently voted 394–1 to return North Korea to the government’s terrorism list.